Getty
The Miami Dolphins are exploring trading Minkah Fitzpatrick
The Miami Dolphins seem to be undergoing a rebuild. After four consecutive winning seasons, and two playoff appearances in the 2022 and 2023 seasons, the team took a step back the past two seasons and finished below .500. As a result, Miami’s owner Stephen Ross wanted to go in a new direction for the franchise. He fired general manager Chris Grier and head coach Mike McDaniel.
The new regime led by general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley has quickly gotten to work. They released All-Pro wide receiver Tyreek Hill, and Pro Bowl pass rusher Bradley Chubb. Additionally, they released the team’s top two free-agent additions from the 2025 season as they look to retool the roster for the future.
After the moves, Miami’s roster appears to be severely depleted. However, that has not stopped the Dolphins from exploring further transactions that could create more holes for the team.
Miami Dolphins Exploring Trade of Minkah Fitzpatrick
Currently, Minkah Fitzpatrick is the only veteran member of the Dolphins secondary, as Rasul Douglas, Jack Jones, Ashtyn Davis and Ifeatu Melifonwu are set to be free agents. And yet, NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported that, “The Dolphins have had trade talks with teams regarding 5x Pro Bowl S Minkah Fitzpatrick.”
Fitzpatrick re-joined the Dolphins prior to the 2025 season, as he was acquired when the team traded away Jalen Ramsey and Jonnu Smith to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Fitzpatrick had originally been a member of the Dolphins in 2018, as they selected him with the 11th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. The defensive back did not want to be part of the Dolphins rebuild in 2019, and requested a trade during the season. Miami granted his trade request as they sent him to Pittsburgh in exchange for a first-round pick, which the Dolphins used on Austin Jackson.
In 2025, Fitzpatrick played at a high level for the Dolphins’ defense. He finished the season with an 81.8 overall grade by Pro Football Focus, his highest since the 2022 season in which he earned first-team All-Pro honors. He was unable to finish out the season with the Dolphins as he suffered an injury in Week 15 in Miami’s loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Minkah Fitzpatrick’s Contract
Fitzpatrick carries a $18 million cap hit in the 2026 season, but has no guaranteed money left on his contract, which does make him a tradeable asset. After a productive 2025 season, the Dolphins are likely looking to net a draft pick for the talented defensive back.
Schultz is not the first insider to comment on the possibility of Fitzpatrick getting traded. Previously, Miami Herald writer Omar Kelly was on The Dolphins Collective show and talked about Minkah Fitzpatrick, saying, “he’s going to get traded.” The conversation surged as new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan spoke on some of the players he viewed as building blocks and did not mention the 29-year-old All-Pro safety.
With only a year remaining on his contract, and the defensive back set to be 30 years old during the next season, he may also prefer being on a contending team rather than a Dolphins team that seems poised to rebuild. Trading him away does carry some risk, as it would create another hole in the team’s secondary.
Jose Esquer Jose Esquer is a Mexican-American sportswriter and communications student based in San Diego, CA. His work spans football, basketball, baseball, and soccer. He has written for platforms like RotoWire and DolphinsTalk. You can find him on Twitter/X @JEsquer8, usually talking Dolphins, world football, or both. More about Jose Esquer
More Heavy on Dolphins
Loading more stories